Monthly Archives: June 2013

Panic attacks and how they are treated

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David Taylorby Professor David Taylor, Director of Pharmacy and Pathology, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Psychopharmacology at King’s College London.

Panic attacks are a frightening experience and can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.  They can be triggered by a specific situation or phobia.

During a panic attack people experience an overwhelming sense of fear along with physical symptoms such as a fast or irregular heartbeat, nausea, sweating and trembling.  Most attacks last for between 5 and 20 minutes.  Some people have attacks once or twice a month, while others have them several times a week. Read more Panic attacks and how they are treated ›

Viagra: will branded or generic versions make a difference?

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABy Colin Cable, Pharmaceutical Science Information Adviser

Viagra loses its patent in the UK today. This means that Pfizer, the company that first made Viagra, will no longer have exclusive rights to its production. Instead, other companies will be able to manufacture and sell generic versions of this medicine. Read more Viagra: will branded or generic versions make a difference? ›

How your pharmacist can help prevent falls

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annamarieBy Annamarie McGregor, Professional Support Pharmacist for the RPS in Scotland

This week is Age UK’s Falls Awareness Week (17th-21st June). Every year around 30 per cent of over 65s will fall; this increases to 50 per cent in those aged over 80. Falls can be a particular worry for older people and can cause a loss of mobility and confidence; for some the consequences can even be fatal. A lot can be done to prevent falls and this awareness week should also act as a reminder to the public that pharmacists can help reduce the risk of falls among older people. Read more How your pharmacist can help prevent falls ›

Statins and muscle pain

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Helen Williams 2 By Helen Williams, Consultant Pharmacist for Cardiovascular Disease, Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Statins are a type of medicine which reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood and are taken by around 5 million people in the UK every day.

High levels of cholesterol can lead to a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease, a heart attack or a stroke. Taking a statin reduces this risk by helping to keep your cholesterol  levels down. Read more Statins and muscle pain ›